Here are some high points to hit in franchise disclosure documents

Becoming a franchisee can be a daunting challenge. The prospect of slogging through a franchise disclosure document, which all franchisors, including Tint World®, must provide prospective owners per Federal Trade Commission regulations doesn’t help matters much.

There is a lot of boilerplate, though, and some sections merit more scrutiny than others. Here’s a quick look at the most important sections of a financial disclosure document to consider should you decide to begin the process of becoming a franchisee of Tint World® or other business.

Royalties/Fees: This section stipulates exactly what fees franchisees will need to pay. Digest this section carefully, as you will be responsible for paying these fees should you become an owner.

Initial investment: Just like the fees section, this is especially important. FDDs need to provide a high and low end of how much franchisees will need to provide up front and how much working capital will be needed.

Territory: You need to pay careful attention to this section, too, as the franchisor may – or may not – guarantee exclusive territory to a franchisee.

Sales: If there is no section on franchise profitability or expenses, request it, as it is not required for inclusion in an FDD.

Finances: Franchisors must provide three years of audited statements, including cash flow and balance and income reports.

Contracts: Any documents or agreements you will need to sign before finalizing your franchise agreement need to be included in the FDD.

Franchising can be a very profitable and rewarding endeavor. It can be complicated, however, and if you lack legal or business experience, you will likely want an attorney or accountant to walk you through the FDD and any other contractual items.

Download the Tint World® franchise kit if you are interested in pursuing a deal with one of the largest tinting, after-market and car accessories franchises in the country.

Our extensive franchisee support processes set us apart

“If you can dream it, you can achieve it.”

This is the message we want to convey to our owners, and it’s appropriate this quote is attributed to Walt Disney. Our upcoming February conference in Orlando at the Swan/Dolphin Hotel will outline the many ways Tint World® corporate can help our franchisees achieve their dreams of business success.

As always, this year’s conference will include a host of training programs and seminars for our owners, who are the backbone of our franchise success.

Here is a quick look at ways Tint World® helps our owners:

A commitment to constant support and communication with our franchisees. If you need to pick up the phone, for whatever reason, we’ll always answer.

We will help you identify and assess the best potential site for your franchise location.

We provide constant business and operational support, as well as store-specific marketing and promotional materials.

Tint World® owners enjoy national online marketing, social media, and public relations efforts, as well as ongoing search-engine optimization benefits to ensure their store is top of mind for customers.

Our buying power and scale allows our franchisees to obtain products and merchandise at drastically lower prices that provide an instant boost to your gross margins.

Our corporate-level relationships with respected international brands ensures owners have access to the most cutting-edge products, technologies and services.

Tint World® franchisees undergo extensive training at our Florida headquarters before opening their stores. An experienced member of our operations staff will work with you prior to, during, and after your opening.

“If you can dream it, you can achieve it.” Are you ready to fly to new heights with a Tint World® franchise? Download our Tint World® franchise kit today.

Tint World® can help you catch those cars, which are cash cows

Don’t curse all those cars on your commute. Look at them as cash cows, instead. They all need maintenance, accessories, and repair and styling services.

When people think of the American automobile industry, they tend to think of cars rolling off assembly lines or sitting in dealership lots. But what they don’t think about is the $270 billion aftermarket industry, and that includes the services provided by Tint World® franchisees across the country. The aftermarket employs 4 million people.

While there is a lot of talk about declining demand of cars because of ride-sharing – and even car-sharing – and the rebirth of center cities, there are still a lot on the road (think back to that commute this morning).

Many cars on the road are getting older, requiring more maintenance and cosmetic care. The aftermarket value of cars more than eight years old is $77 million. That’s a lot of money to be made.

Despite the glut of older cars, the national fleet continues to grow (260 million vehicles were registered in the U.S. in 2015, and that number continues to increase).

New cars are becoming increasingly sophisticated in terms of digital and electronic features, and Tint World franchisees can repair and replace those bells and whistles. Tinting services, audiovisual and safety features will also continue to be in demand in the aftermarket industry,

New cars are increasingly expensive, and consumers want to keep them in tip-top shape and appearance. This means high demand for glass replacement and repair; paint protection; and restorative services.

Social media and texting make it easier to entice customers in for specials, or recommended services such as oil changes.

The numbers don’t lie. Cars are an ingrained part of American life, and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Cars and entrepreneurship are ingrained in the American psyche, and good franchising practices and a willingness to learn and adapt mean the twain will meet for years to come.

Opportunities abound for continuing franchisee education.

There’s no rest for the wicked, and there’s definitely no rest for the successful.

Franchise owners need to perpetually build and maintain their momentum, and part of that comes through continuing education.

Here are five pointers for staying at the top of your game:

If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree, consider getting one via night school or online classes. The thought of the extra workload may make you choke, but educational credentials increase your value and representation. You can also check out noncredit courses available at area community colleges or universities. Again, it’s all about adding value to

Take advantage of any educational or training sessions made available by your franchisor. Tint World® franchisee life begins with an intensive three-week course at the Boca Raton, Florida headquarters, but don’t stop there – you’re literally just getting started. Attend every industry conference you can, and make sure you attend the annual Tint World® You might be amazed at what you can learn from your fellow franchisors, many of whom took the same risks and face the same challenges.

Beyond conferences, Tint World® offers franchisees ongoing support that includes online training; regional workshops; research and development support; online learning; certification; specialized training sessions and supplier support programs. We will never stop teaching if you never stop learning.

Embrace your competitors and learn what kind of continuing education their corporate offices offer. Then pursue the same training and courses.

Read up on your industry and best business practices, or maybe biographies of business people you admire. Keep a book in your car so you can knock out a few pages while eating lunch or another piece of infrequent downtime. You can also get books on CD or via streamed devices. Here’s a list of famous franchise titles that are considered must-reads in the industry.

One more thing: Good leaders will share their knowledge with their employees. Let your best and brightest attend some conferences or workshops with their bosses. Learning is contagious, and learning is important to your business and personal growth.

Keep your brand active, and your spirits up

It’s not uncommon for franchise and retail businesses of all types to slow down soon after the retail rush of the holiday season subsides.

January, February and March are traditionally slow months for sales and customer traffic, but there are ways to boost business before the brighter days of spring and summer.

Lengthen the holidays. Maintain the holiday momentum as long as you can. Customers may return gifts soon after Christmas. Sell them new products with targeted markdowns.

Step up your social media game. Get creative. Consider hiring a professional public relations firm to handle your social media platforms. Lure customers to your shop with one-day specials or other promotions you can trumpet on social media.

Plan ahead. You know when your business is up, and when it’s down. Prepare for the short-term financial downturn ahead of time with a rainy-day fund and possible staffing shifts.

Tout new products. If one of your vendors rolls out a new product, especially early in the year, promote it to get customers to your store.

Get involved. The slower winter season is a good time to step up networking with local chambers of commerce and other business or trade organizations. Attend conferences to promote your brand.

Get personal. Call some of your best customers of the past year and thank them for their support and invite them in for a cup of coffee. Based upon their prior purchases, gently pitch some new products they may be interested in. Some of our Tint World stores have had great success hosting or being involved in their local cars and coffee outfit.

The most important advice: Stay positive. Slowdowns are part of business, and should be part of your planning process. Remember: This too shall pass. Click here for more information about Tint World® franchises or download our franchise kit today.

Check out the top 10 reasons to buy a franchise:

By Charles Bonfiglio

Striving for new goals is a way to motivate yourself out of the current economic funk. For many people, these goals include the desire to start their own business and become the master of their destiny. Franchising can fit very well into that picture.

Here are the top 10 reasons to pursue a franchise opportunity if you want to own your own business:

Track record of success. Any good franchise company has developed a method of doing business that works well and produces results. Even better, they’re required to provide you with a great deal of information in their required disclosures so you can investigate and verify the results with existing franchisees prior to making your final decision.

Strong brand. One of the biggest advantages of franchising is that the company is building a brand on a regional or national basis that should have value in the eyes of customers you’re trying to attract.

Training programs. A good franchise company has training programs designed to bring you up to speed on the most successful methods to run the business. The company should also have reference materials to assist you in dealing with whatever comes up while you’re running your business.

Ongoing operational support. Franchise companies have staff dedicated to providing ongoing assistance to franchisees. You’re not alone when you’re building and running your business, and you can always call on experienced people when you hit a rough spot or want to share new ideas for growing the business.

Marketing assistance. The franchise company has marketing assistance to provide you with proven tools and strategies for attracting and retaining customers. Usually, the staff helps you develop the actual marketing plans and budgets for your grand opening as well as your ongoing efforts to market your business effectively.

Real estate assistance. Most franchises have manuals and other documentation, as well as staff, to help you find the right site and negotiate the best possible deal. This is a very important advantage that can hold costs down and provide the best possible chance of success in any site-driven business.

Construction assistance. Franchise companies can also provide a benefit in helping you design the layout of the business and selecting the right contractors to do your build out, as well as making sure you get the exact mix of furniture and equipment you need to maximize the efficiency of your initial investment.

Purchasing power. A good franchise can take advantage of the buying power of the entire system to negotiate prices for everything you need at significantly lower levels than you could achieve as an independent operator. This applies not only to initial furniture and equipment purchases, but also to the supplies, inventory, uniforms and everything else you’ll need on an ongoing basis.

(and 10) Risk avoidance. This one is so important that we’ll call it both 9 and 10! The biggest reason to buy a franchise is that, if you’re smart, it will help you avoid much of the risk of starting a new business.

Use your page as an advertising billboard. Make sure you utilize the space afforded your brand on your page. Make sure you have a dynamic cover and profile photo that mentions your business name. Change it up regularly. Research and take advantage of special business features and make sure all of your contact information is kept updated.

Post good content. Consider hiring a professional public-relations agency to provide relevant and plentiful content for your page. Original photos and videos are also popular on Facebook. Link wisely, and only follow appropriate pages. Update your Facebook presence as often as possible.

Give shout-outs. Tag good customers or products in posts; people like to be recognized, and individual brands and products you may carry can also be tagged in Facebook now.

Choose your audience. There are multiple groups and communities devoted to a range of topics. Join or engage with groups that might especially appreciate or be interested in your product or business. You can also build your own Facebook audience by following customer and employee Facebook pages.

If your business doesn’t have an active Facebook page, you are already far beyond the 8-ball. Get your page up to snuff and current. It’ll help you generate business and you may find you “like” it.

Tint World® continues U.S. franchise traditions

One name is synonymous with American franchising: Ray Kroc. In 1954, he acquired the rights to franchise McDonald’s outside of its original California territories, and the burger behemoth began its growth spurt to the publicly traded, global brand it is today.

Tint World® followed a similar, though more muted, path: Its first location opened in Florida in 1982, and 35 years later it has more than 60 window-tinting and auto accessories stores throughout the U.S. and continues its expansion to Canada.

But there’s another familiar name that is integral to American franchising history: Benjamin Franklin. Yes, that Benjamin Franklin.

Franklin was a founder of our country as well as a franchise pioneer. He first set up an exclusive relationship with a Charleston, S.C. printer who was contractually obligated to print only materials provided by Franklin. He reached similar arrangements with printers throughout the colonies, from Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Antigua. This gave him outsized control of information and materials disseminated throughout the colonies and eventually the young United States, but it set a standard of sorts for such business operations to come.

Other franchises during the early years of the country and its settlement included government exclusivity agreements reached with the operators of stores and supply depots at federal forts and trading outposts.

Indeed, the principle of “manifest destiny” and westward expansion further fueled the expansion of franchises.

The country’s first semblance of a restaurant franchise was started by an Englishman named Frederick Harvey. He reached an agreement with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad that allowed him to operate his Harvey House restaurants at depots every 100 miles along the 12,000-mile railroad. It technically was a chain, not a franchise, but his operating principles — standardization and quality control — became hallmarks of the modern franchise system.

Following the rise of the railroad, another technological innovation began to make its mark and shape the U.S. in its modern form: the automobile. As highways increasingly crisscrossed the country, complementary franchises followed. A&W drive-in restaurants first offered franchises in 1924; and Howard Johnson’s and White Castle soon followed.

It’s apparent that the history of American franchising is linked to the country’s technological and transportation advances, such as the rise of the railroad and conquest of the country by cars.

Do your own due diligence before inking a franchise deal

It’s kind of a big deal to enter into a franchise agreement. There are hours of interviews, franchise disclosure documents, reams of financial statements, and days of discovery.

And that’s largely for the benefit of the company determining whether it wants to sign you on as a franchisee.

But it’s advisable to turn the tables somewhat, and see whether you want to work with them.

Here are seven things to do before you enter into a franchise agreement, be it with Tint World® or any other national franchising operation:

Contact other franchisees within the company and ask about franchise support, especially getting the store up and running.

Inquire about the franchise’s marketing and advertising plans, and ask other franchisees how effective they are, especially if you are required to stick to a company marketing template.

Make sure you know what any upfront fees are covering, including legal and CPA services.

Ask the franchise you are considering courting whether they have testimonials and client success stories they are willing to share. They should, and if they don’t, that could indicate dissatisfaction among franchisees.

Examine the all-around track record of your company. A lot of information should be available in the franchise disclosure documents companies are legally required to release. Look for litigation; what states they are allowed to operate in; and the overall franchise approval and closure rates.

Talk to customers or clients of the franchise you are considering. How would they rate the company? Were they pleased with the services received?

Stalk your company’s online presence and reviews to gauge client satisfaction. Reviews on Google, Yelp, Facebook and the Better Business Bureau website should give you a feel for whether customers are happy with the franchise.

The franchise world is not for everyone. It involves a substantial investment and extreme vetting on both sides of the negotiating table. So make sure exactly what you’re signing up for when you ink that franchise agreement. It’s kind of a big deal.

For information on franchising opportunities within Tint World, a national leading provider of window-tinting, vehicle accessories and electronics, download our franchise kit today.

From marketing to real estate, we’re here to help your franchise succeed

When we began offering franchises in 2007, the Tint World® franchise team realized that many of our franchisees would be new to franchising and owning their own business. That’s why we invested so much time developing and perfecting the Tint World® franchise business system with superior operational support staff and all the tools to be successful.

Real Estate Each new shop location is carefully determined in cooperation with the franchisee and the Tint World® team. We assist each franchisee with selecting and securing a site, negotiating a lease, and building out the center. Our franchise and real-estate development team will be available to support and guide you every step of the way.

Construction The Tint World® team guides the construction process for every franchisee. Our network of approved vendors, architects, and general contractors helps streamline the development process.

Training Our three-week New Owner Training Program covers all the skills needed to become a successful business owner. The first two weeks are spent in a classroom, where we train our franchisees on the business operations, marketing, recruiting, and financial management of the business. Then one week of training is spent at one of our shops to learn about inventory, scheduling, team development, and how to operate the business.

Purchasing & Distribution Tint World® franchisees benefit from our national purchasing power and our partnership with the industry’s leading distribution network, which provides nationwide distribution of delivery consistency and quality products.

Operations Tint World® franchise operations managers are business consultants (FBC) who assist franchisees in grand openings, staff training, and ensuring the store is fully prepared and ready for their first customer. Tint World® FBC call and visit centers on a regular basis to conduct operations support, evaluations, answer any questions and give support to managers and/or crew members.

Marketing Our marketing team supports every franchisee with effective and innovative marketing initiatives at the local and national levels. This assistance is provided to help you with your grand opening plans and social media presence, along with the implementation of new product launches. Our public-relations team keeps Tint World® in front of local and national media.

Financing Tint World® does not offer financing; however, we have relationships with a network of lenders. These lenders work with you in securing the necessary loan you’ll need to open your Tint World® center. We are also on the SBA Franchise Registry, which provides a more streamlined application process for you.